Zaoyuan — Nanchan Site

Zaoyuan — Nanchan Site

Zaoyuan — Nanchan Site is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Shanxi Province.

Zaoyuan — Nanchan Site

Zaoyuan — Nanchan Site (Third Batch of Provincial-level Protected Sites)

Era: Neolithic Age

Address: Approximately 10 kilometers east of Yicheng County

The site is situated along both banks of the Hui River and its tributaries—the Shipo River, Jiaodi River, Haizi Gully, and Shimen River—in Longhua Town (formerly Beichan Township). It lies in the piedmont zone transitioning from the Taiyue Mountains to the Fen River Valley. The area encompasses parts of four villages: Nanchan, Beichan, Nanwei, and Zaoyuan, with four main site zones covering a total area of approximately 1.3 million square meters. Three surveys were conducted in 1957, 1982, and 1986, and a follow-up investigation in 1991 re-examined sites such as Beichan, Nanchan, and Dian’eryuan, leading to the new discovery of the Zaoyuan and Nanchan sites. Excavations and clearing work were carried out at sites including Beichan and Zaoyuan during the 1990s.

A small-scale excavation was conducted in the autumn of 1999, uncovering an area of about 190 square meters. Major findings included house foundations and storage pits, with pottery as the primary artifact category. The main pottery types were bowls, basins, pots, and pointed jars, representing early remains of the Miaodigou Culture. These discoveries provide valuable insights for re-evaluating the archaeological culture, origins, and affiliations of the Yangshao period in southern Shanxi.

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Protected Sites